Refrigerator



A. N. MARSCHALL.

REFRIGEHATOR.

APPLICATION FILED oc.2a, 1919.

Patented. Jan. 18, 1921,

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. ALFRED N. MARSCHALL.' or lialufrriucan, MARYLAND.

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y specification ofteaersrafent. Patel'lted Jan. 18, `1921.

Application filed October 28, 1919. Serial No. 333,991.

To all 'whom 'it may concern Beit known that I, ALFRED N. MARsoHALL, a citizen of the United States, residin in the clty of Baltimore and State of aryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Refrigerators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to refrigerators and has for its object the provision of a construction whereby the outside hot air will be prevented from reaching the contents of the refrigerator and whereby the weight and cost of the refrigerator will be reduced. Specifically stated, the object of the invention is to provide a construction which will produce a light hollow refrigerator wall from which the air may be extracted to produce a vacuum and which will be effectually reinforced and held against collapse so that light thin material may be used.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be hereinafter fully described, the novel features being subsequently pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings- Figure l is a perspective view of a refrigerator with parts broken away to show my improved construction;

Fig. 2 is a detail view partly in longitudinal section and partly in elevation through one of the wall sections;

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the reinforcing strips.

In carrying out my invention, I construct the refrigerator walls of a plurality of sections each of which consists of an outer shell l which may be'of thin sheet metal, preferably Zinc .which is cheap and durable. The shelll will be preferably of a rectangular formation and may be of any desired dimensions according to the capacityl of the refrigerator in which it is to be incorporated. The corners or edges of the sections will be hermetically sealed by brazing or otherwise and within each sectionwill be placed a reinforcement 'consisting of intersecting wooden strips or bars 2 of such diedge and from side to side of the shell thereby eflectua-lly reinforcing the light metallic shell so that it will not be liable to collapse. Each strip 2 is constructed in one longitudinal edge with a plurality of notches 3 which will interengage with intersecting strips so that the strips will interlock. Upon reference to Figs. l and 2, it will be noted that the strips subdivide .the shells into a plurality of cells and, to establish communication betweenthe cells, openings 4: are formed through the several strips, as clearly shown. In one end or edge wall of the shell is fitted a valve 5 which may be of any desired type which will permit flow from the shell but prevent flow into the same. A convenient form of valve is the wellknown inflation valve fitted in pneumatic tires which may be reversed and secured in the wall of the shell l so that that end of the valve 2 which is normally the outer end will be disposed within the shell and the valve thus rendered operable to permit exit from the shell but prevent flow into the same as will be readily understood. The valves may, of course, be disposed in any preferred manner and in Fig. l of the drawings I have illustrated them as extending through countersunk openings with their outer ends flush with the outer surface of the wall in which they are respectively fitted.

Thel several wall sections may be assembled in a refrigerator in any desired manner and the joints formed by the meeting surfaces of the same will be elfectually sealed by soldering, brazing or otherwise. Any preferred covering, such as a wooden casing, may be secured over the outer surfaces of the se\f'eral shells and if so desired the inner surfaces of the shells may be covered with any suitable lining. The several shells having been assembled so as to constitute the walls of a refrigerator, a suction pump is coupled to the several valves successively and upon operation of the pump the air trapped within the shells will be withdrawn so that a vacuum will be produced within each shell. As is well-known, a vacuum is not affected by changes in temperature and constitutes an effectual heat resistor so that by providing a vacuum in. the wall of the refrigerator I protect the contents thereof from the influence of the outside hot air and thereby aid in preserving food and effect an economy in the consumption of ice. My mensions that they will extend from edge to i construction renders unnecessary the use of the usual pacl'lngs and multiple walls now commonly employed 1n refrigerator construction and thereby reduces the weight of posed Within the shell and each provided in points, longitudinal and transverse bars distablish communication between all the spaces defined by the bars, and :L valve one longitudinaly edge With a. plurality of fitted in one Wall of the shell and operable 10 notches whereby the bars may be fitted toto permit the formation of :t vacuum therein. gether in interlocking engagement at their In testimony whereof aliix my signature. points of intersection, the bars being further provided with openings therethrough to es- ALFRED N. MARSCHALL. [n s] 

